Official Chargers Blog

Training camp will tell whether or not the current Charger personnel have the talent needed to revive Air Coryell. It is clear, however, that offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is molding his program in the vein of one of the most dangerous offenses the NFL has ever known.

An Air Coryell-type offense starts with the quarterback position. Marty Schottenheimer and Cam Cameron auditioned Philip Rivers for the role when they coached the South team in the 2004 Senior Bowl. With a game plan ripped from Coryell’s playbook, Rivers took charge, slinging the ball freely around the field. He quickly established a rhythm that produced three scores, elevating his team to a 21 point lead at the end of the first quarter. Obviously, Schottenheimer and Cameron liked what they saw, because Rivers was a Charger by spring.

A key element of the offense is the ability to dump the ball off fast when the heat is on. Antonio Gates is a great safety valve and the most problematic tight end for defenses to cover in the game today. He’s not too shabby in the end zone, either.

The receiving corps of the current team is made up of unique players that bring their own special skills to the table. Each of them can cause match-up problems, either because of speed, size, or elusiveness. Every tight end, back or receiver has great hands.

Eric Parker, a.k.a., “The Bondsman”, is so named because he knows how to bail a quarterback out. He's not afraid to make a tough catch over the middle and can really take a lick.

At 36 years old, Pro-Bowl receiver Keenan McCardell relies on his smarts more than his body. He’s as wily as they come, and can burn even the most experienced defensive backs for serious yardage.

Vincent Jackson may be the deep threat on this Charger team. At nearly 6’ 6” and 246 pounds, he is astonishingly athletic. Jackson is an acrobat, able to pull down nearly any ball thrown his way. He is speedy enough to stretch the field and will be a huge threat in the end zone, winning one-on-one battles all day long.

Kassim Osgood is another big target at 6’ 5” 220 pounds. Osgood is an extremely hard worker that would have made the Pro Bowl last year on special teams had he not been injured.

Rashaun Woods is a first-round receiver acquired in a trade with San Francisco in the off-season. He’s a student of the game and is able to adjust his routes on the fly when he sees an opportunity to give his quarterback an outlet. Woods was selected 31st overall in the 2004 draft, and was thought by many to be the best receiver available.

Brandon Manumaleuna, formerly with St. Louis, adds quality blocking and a new receiving threat to this already versatile offense. Manumaleuna, “Manu” to teammates, is a big-bodied tight end with incredibly soft hands. He was brought in to block, but defenses can’t assume he will stay in the box. If Manu goes free, it will probably mean a new set of downs for the Chargers.

Last, but certainly not least, are the backs, led by future Hall of Famer LaDanian Tomlinson. Tomlinson is a triple threat. He’s run for over 1200 yards in each of his five pro seasons. He’s a talented receiver with 342 career receptions for eight touchdowns. Tomlinson has even thrown four touchdown passes – more than Philip Rivers at this point.

Tomlinson has a symbiotic relationship with hard-hitting fullback Lorenzo Neal. Neal is exceptionally good at clearing a path for Tomlinson to do his thing. Later, Tomlinson will act as a decoy so Neal can play catch and run.

Coaches are working to integrate running backs Michael Turner and Darren Sproles more fully into the game plan. Turner will get more touches to reduce the wear and tear on Tomlinson and provide a change of pace. Sproles, reminiscent of former Charger Lionel “Little Train” James, will play a larger role in the passing game, getting the ball in space where he can do damage with his quickness.

Cam Cameron’s offense is gaining more than yards -- it’s gaining respect. Even so, passing yardage was slightly down last year compared to 2003 and 2004. Teams began loading up as many as nine players at the line of scrimmage, forcing receivers to stay in to block. Tomlinson’s reception numbers dropped drastically last year, in part because he had to block to help keep Brees from getting sacked.

This shouldn’t happen with Philip Rivers at the helm. Teams will try to stack the box, but Rivers is five inches taller than Brees, giving him much better visibility over the line. His quick release will pick up a lot of yardage if opposing defenders leave receivers one-on-one.

Air Coryell was one of the most prolific offenses in the history of the NFL. Sadly, the teams never made it to the Super Bowl because the Charger’s defense wasn’t good enough to stop opponents. Don Coryell lamented that fact in a 1994 Union-Tribune interview:

"I'd forgotten how close we were," Coryell says when the (defensive) shortcomings are mentioned, "but we could've won three Super Bowls with just a little more help."

That won’t be a problem for the 2006 Chargers. By all indications, the current “Lights Out” defense will be near the top of the league in sacks and run protection. If the addition of Antonio Cromartie and Marlon McCree raises the level of competition, the secondary could put on an aerial circus of it’s own.

If that happens, Air Coryell v2.0 should win a Super Bowl.